Review: T-Mobile myTouch 4G: Do we have a new Android king?

T-Mobile is trying to claim the Android crown with the myTouch 4G and this superphone is packed with enough features to go toe-to-toe with the cream of the crop. Can it live up to the hype? Read on to find out, friends.

T-Mobile myTouch 4GAvailable now for $199.99 with new 2-year contract

Specifications (Specs-sheet)

3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen (800 x 480)

1 GHz Snapdragon processor

5 Megapixel camera with LED Flash

4 GB of internal memory, comes with 8 GB card pre-installed

microSD card slot, expandable to 32 GB

WiFi (B/G/N), HSPA+ 3G, GPS, Bluetooth

5-megapixel camera with Flash, 720p HD video recording

Front-facing camera for video chatting

Genius button for deep voice-action integration

The Good

Well-made piece of hardware – it feels like a premium device

HSPA+ speeds are great if you’re in the coverage area

Video-chatting works well and not having to rely on WiFi is great

Custom UI tweaks actually help

Android Market is mature now

Great experience overall

The Bad

The camera’s not horrible but it could be improved

Data connection fluctuates wildly

Stock Android fans may not like the skin

Not sure if Genius button is truly needed – I miss a standalone search button

Why do we need an optical track pad?

Hardware

Don’t let the myTouch name fool you: this is a top-shelf smartphone that is on par with whatever the competition is offering. The metal backing, dark grey trim and the overall feel of the device makes the myTouch 4G feel like a premium handset. You can also get it in a variety of colors and I’m a little partial to all-black one.

On the face of the device you have a 3.8-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480 by 800 resolution. It’s bright and responsive, although I’m a bit spoiled by Super AMOLED and the Retina Display. Still, you shouldn’t have any problems as the screen is pretty darn good.

Above the screen is a front-facing camera (more on that later), a notification light and a speaker. You have four hard button below: Home, Menu, Back and the Genius button.

Ah, the Genius button. We first saw this on the myTouch 3G Slide and this enables you to use your voice for multiple things like sending texts, searching for businesses and more. T-Mobile has also added in things like a hands-free mode and a Car dock mode to make this more useful.

I’m still not convinced that the Genius button is necessary, as Google is making a lot of these features available with its Voice Actions apps. These will eventually be baked into the OS itself – plus, I kind of miss the dedicated search button a lot. I’ve grown so accustomed to it that it’s kind of a pain when it’s gone.

I also don’t think the optical track pad is needed any more, particularly with the large touchscreen. Sure, it could make one-handed operation easier but I had no problem just touching the screen even when using one hand.

You have a dedicated camera button on the spine, power/unlock and standard headphone on the top and the volume rocker, microUSB port and a docking connector on the other side. The back has a subtle camera module, flash and a speaker, along with an easy-to-take-off battery cover.

The internals are about what you’d expect from a smartphone of this class: 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, WiFi (802.11n support), GPS, Bluetooth, and radios which can take advantage of the HSPA+ network.

I can detract points for having to take off the battery door to swap the microSD slot and for the Genius button and optical track pad but those are minor annoyances. HTC knows how to make high-quality devices and the myTouch 4G lives up to that standard.

Well done.

Software

I’m going to focus mainly on the preloaded software and custom tweaks on the myTouch 4G because you should know what Android 2.2 means by now: it’s a mature, highly-capable platform to make calls, send texts, surf the web and the Android Market is rounding into shape nicely. Android is still not quite as visually-pleasing as iOS (come on, it’s true) but it is darn good.

The myTouch 4G has a customized version of HTC Sense UI and it’s being called the myTouch UI. It shares a lot of features with Sense like the “Leap” feature which shows you all your home screens at once after double tapping the Home button. You get five home screens and access to the traditional Sense widgets like the Friend Stream for aggregating your social networks.

T-Mobile dipped its finger in the software pie multiple times and it’s mostly positive. The myModes feature lets you quickly switch which mode you’re in: the Kids mode disables phone-calling access, Family mode disables e-mail notifications so you can focus on those rug rats, Work mode puts your e-mail and calendar front and center and the Standard mode is what you’d expect. The modes switch pretty quickly and I found this a neat, little tweak.

Another tweak I like is that there’s an app switcher in the pull-down notification tray. Like I said in the Captivate review, I really love smart additions to the notification bar.

There’s also a Faves app which makes it easier to keep track of 20 of your closest contacts. The mail client also smartly takes advantage of this by having a separate filter for your Faves – this is really cool because my contact list is filled with tons of people and this filters out the noise.

The only problem I had is that I still think the updated Gmail app is better, mainly because I’m used to it. Another weird thing I found is that the myTouch 4G seemed to get mail notifications a little later than other devices. With all the phones on my desk, my room sounds like a freaking Pachinko machine but the T-Mobile myTouch always seemed to get it last. The delay was only by about 30 seconds but it was still annoying.

There’s a car dock mode to help you avoid that naughty texting while driving and this is an opportunity for the Genius button to shine. This lets you use your voice to check e-mails, send out texts and more. The voice-recognition system is pretty accurate but it is a little slow for my liking.

It comes with Swype as the standard keyboard and I’m on that bandwagon. This replacement keyboard makes it simple to bang out messages with one hand. You can turn it off for standard Android typing.

There are a few other things that I’ll cover in later sections but you should know that the software on the myTouch 4G is pretty darn good. Android is a good foundation to build upon and the tweaks make it more usable and a little more visually pleasing.

Of course, the one concern with a custom UI layer is that it can lead to roadblocks with future versions of Android and that can be especially worrisome considering Gingerbread is right around the corner. T-Mobile’s upgrade track record hasn’t been that great either.

Still, unless Gingerbread brings some amazing new features, I wouldn’t be too concerned with the software on the myTouch 4G because it’s rock-solid. The 1 GHz processor means there’s no delay in switching between apps or screens, either.

Web Browsing, Multimedia, Camera

Web Browser

The myTouch 4G uses HSPA+ for its data connection and I’ll dive deep into that in the data section below but it uses the standard Android WebKit browser. That means that many web pages will render just fine, it can handle JavaScript like a champ, there’s pinch-to-zoom, intelligent zooming and good kinetic scrolling. There’s nothing to complain about here.

The T-Mobile Android handset also comes with Adobe Flash Player and this works relatively well for many videos and online games. There are still some playback issues but I think a lot of that has to do with publishers than the actual player.

Multimedia

I’ve constantly said that the Android multimedia players are still a step behind the iPhone but the myTouch 4G nicely closes that gap. I’d still give the iPhone media player the nod but this T-Mobile smartphone gives it a nice run for the money.

The media player is called Media room and it handles music, video and FM radio quite well. It also comes preloaded with Slacker and multimedia searches will even go through that Internet radio provider for tracks and stations. I’m more of a Pandora man myself (I pay for the service) but Slacker is pretty darn cool because you can cache songs for times when you don’t have Internet connectivity.

You can also look forward to T-Mobile TV on the device and this works pretty well in delivering free and paid mobile television. There’s DLNA support to stream videos and photos over WiFi to a capable device – this is neat stuff but I’m still not sure how often I’d really use this.

The one negative is that there’s still no standard Android syncing software but this does come with DoubleTwist. I find drag and drop to be enough for me but I don’t really create playlists, so the media syncing software will be much appreciated by many.

Camera and video chatting (special World Series edition)

The myTouch 4G has a 5-megapixel camera with a flash and it is capable of recording at 720p HD video. That’s fairly standard now, as nearly every top-shelf smartphone can do this.

A funny thing happened when I was testing out this phone: the San Francisco Giants won the World Series and there was bedlam in the city. I’m talking cheering in the streets, riot cops, burned mattresses, ghost riding whips and all that you would expect from a city celebrating its first World Series championship.

It’s at these special moments when you want the camera in your pocket to come through and the myTouch 4G did a decent job but I’ve seen much better from cameras with the same specs.

The camera UI itself is fine, as there are are multiple options for exposure, effects, face detection and sharing. The flash works well enough but you’re still not going to get amazing low-light shots. It also launches fairly quickly when you hold down the camera button, which is always appreciated.

My problem is that it couldn’t really handle motion at all. I have so many shots that are just a blurred mess. Shots are also not as sharp as I’ve had with other 5-megapixel cameras like the Samsung Fascinate.

Here are some of the better shots but I missed a few awesome ones.

Standard settings with a lot of light:

Low light shot with flash:

The video recording was pretty good, as the high-resolution videos come out well, if a tad bit choppy. I would have liked some image stabilization and the ability to zoom in but those are minor quibbles. I also hate that it doesn’t default to 720p HD, as you have to switch it on.

Video chatting

One of the most appealing features of the myTouch 4G is the ability to do video chatting nearly anywhere over its 3G network. That’s right folks, unlike the Apple iPhone 4 and FaceTime, you won’t have to rely on a WiFi network (T-Mobile is very proud of that, too). The front-facing camera lets you video chat with other mobiles or desktops using Qik or Yahoo chat.

It all sounds amazing but it’s not quite ready for prime time. It works well under ideal conditions – when both have a strong HSPA+ signal or on WiFi – and I was able to video chat with my brother in Texas to show him the World Series revelry. Like the iPhone, you can quickly switch which camera you’re using so you can broadcast what’s around you.

Of course, the problem happens when you’re not in ideal conditions, as video can stutter and lag tremendously and the audio can be downright unusable.

Video chatting on the myTouch 4G is mostly a good experience and it’s really nice not having to worry about being near a WiFi hotspot. The company also said it plans to integrate other video chatting services in the future and I hope Google Talk and Skype are at the top of the list. Check out the video below for a quick demonstration of this in action.

Call Quality, HSPA+ and Battery Life

The call quality on this Android superphone was great: voice sounded clear on both ends and I didn’t hear any static. I would have liked the speakerphone to be a bit louder but that’s about all I can complain about.

As for the “4G” part of the phone, I think that HSPA+ is freaking awesome … if you have strong coverage. The company’s HSPA+ network can get a theoretical 21 Mbps download speeds and I would routinely get between 3 to 7 Mbps when I had coverage.

Of course, the “when I had coverage” part is key. I found the data would wildly fluctuate depending on where I was. In my room and throughout most of the house, I’d be stuck on super slow EDGE. Walking a few blocks gave me full HSPA+ goodness. Much of San Francisco was blanketed with HSPA+ but there didn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason which areas had this and which didn’t.

So, HSPA+ is awesome sauce if you can get it but going back to EDGE is very much a drag.

You know the standard routine by now with battery life: a single charge will get you through a normal day with moderate use. Heavy mobile Internet usage will mean you need a charge around 6 p.m.

The Final Take: Is the myTouch 4G king of them all y’all?

We have a ton of superphones to choose from on every carrier, so does the myTouch 4G do enough to stand out from the crowd. I say it does.

I did kind of miss the extra real estate of the Droid X or EVO and the iPhone 4 is still very popular for a reason but I think the myTouch equals or outdoes many of these devices in nearly every category. It’s a good-looking device with a strong, mature operating system and once you go “4G,” everything else just seems like it’s stuck in molasses.

The only drawbacks you may have is the okay camera and the myTouch UI may not be for everyone. If you’re on T-Mobile and want a smartphone, get this handset. If you’re looking to jump to T-Mobile (and have HSPA+ coverage), then you’ll be glad you did if you buy this smartphone.

The screen looked pretty washed out in the video chat segment – is it that bad?

Anonymous

Nah, that was more of a lighting issue on my part. My apologies.

Mgina_garcia

All this was very insightful especially since iam trying to decided whether I should get an iphone 4g or the new my touch 4g. However how do i know if i have HSPA+ coverage? Do I have to ask my carrier?

http://twitter.com/carlosdavampire Carlos Reyes

How funny is it when your “Cons” are pretty much limited to added features like track pad that you don’t use?

Anonymous

Fair point. Not too much bad in this thing.

Phillip

I’ve heard conflicting reports about the front facing –is it glass or is it plastic? Also, does the FM radio work “over the air” or does it work via wi-fi or the carrier’s signal?

http://www.scottstewartphoto.com Scott

Based on your tech knowledge …….. Can the blurriness of the HD Video camera be fixed with software or firmware, or does it need new hardware.

I like the phone but i have an 11 month old and I want to get his growing moments.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Mills/1297480565 Matthew Mills

there is 3 videos of the video chat and they are all the same ones. Its fine that you show one and the audio it not working because some times there are glitches. But next time could you please make the next video of the video chat working because i am interested in seeing that. Thank you and i love checking your website everyday the reviews and videos are always great.

Bill

The “when you have 4G coverage” point is a significant issue to consider. I got the Sprint HTC Evo in August when they first came out and 4G hadn’t hit any place in my home state of Missouri. Kansas City now supposedly has it and St. Louis just got 4G. Still no 4G in Columbia, Springfield or Joplin.

Plus, when they say that they have 4G in any market, it is misleading. They are developing 4G tower by tower and the progress is slow. When they say that they have 4G in any city , they may mean that a few downtown towers have been switched over but you won’t have 4G all over that metropolitan area as you drive around. When I was in Atlanta and St. Louis recently, I turned on the 4G function excited to see the difference. As I spent about a half hour driving through the heart of both cities, I had 4 G for a total of about 5 to 10 minutes. Sprint has been pushing their 4G on commercials but most of us don’t have it yet. It seems that owning a Sprint Evo right now is sort of like having a Lamborghini before they built any super highways.

Bill

The “when you have 4G coverage” point is a significant issue to consider. I got the Sprint HTC Evo in August when they first came out and 4G hadn’t hit any place in my home state of Missouri. Kansas City now supposedly has it and St. Louis just got 4G. Still no 4G in Columbia, Springfield or Joplin.

Plus, when they say that they have 4G in any market, it is misleading. They are developing 4G tower by tower and the progress is slow. When they say that they have 4G in any city , they may mean that a few downtown towers have been switched over but you won’t have 4G all over that metropolitan area as you drive around. When I was in Atlanta and St. Louis recently, I turned on the 4G function excited to see the difference. As I spent about a half hour driving through the heart of both cities, I had 4 G for a total of about 5 to 10 minutes. Sprint has been pushing their 4G on commercials but most of us don’t have it yet. It seems that owning a Sprint Evo right now is sort of like having a Lamborghini before they built any super highways.

Bill

The “when you have 4G coverage” point is a significant issue to consider. I got the Sprint HTC Evo in August when they first came out and 4G hadn’t hit any place in my home state of Missouri. Kansas City now supposedly has it and St. Louis just got 4G. Still no 4G in Columbia, Springfield or Joplin.

Plus, when they say that they have 4G in any market, it is misleading. They are developing 4G tower by tower and the progress is slow. When they say that they have 4G in any city , they may mean that a few downtown towers have been switched over but you won’t have 4G all over that metropolitan area as you drive around. When I was in Atlanta and St. Louis recently, I turned on the 4G function excited to see the difference. As I spent about a half hour driving through the heart of both cities, I had 4 G for a total of about 5 to 10 minutes. Sprint has been pushing their 4G on commercials but most of us don’t have it yet. It seems that owning a Sprint Evo right now is sort of like having a Lamborghini before they built any super highways.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GYOKTOKLKHBFB3EASFKJF6EUKU Vince

This is a VERY good point about the 4G.

http://twitter.com/jeffster888 jeffster888

Completely off topic but +1 for the Giants parade and ensuing riot.

http://twitter.com/jeffster888 jeffster888

Completely off topic but +1 for the Giants parade and ensuing riot.

RODOLPHE

i would like to know when and with who my touch 4 g will be available in canada i am from montreal

http://www.facebook.com/people/Lee-Bosset/100000366129902 Lee Bosset

It’s really nice that you took the time to write this review. but I have a couple of quibbles about the video demo of video chat.

First, if you’re going to attempt to “demo” something for others using video, make sure you can actually see what you’re trying to demo. Simply tilting the phone downward would have removed the reflection of the sky. Another option would have been to shoot the demo when you were indoors. Second, learn how to work the feature you’re attempting to demo. With QIK, the person making the call will have an on-screen button at the bottom of the screen, to the left of the red “hang up” button. You need to hold down that button for the other person to hear you. The person on the other end will not have that button and will not have to worry about it. It works like a walkie talkie. Why did they do this? No clue. You can download Fring and use that for video chat and not have to worry about sound. Otherwise, great job!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GYOKTOKLKHBFB3EASFKJF6EUKU Vince

Great review. I have this phone and it is very nice. The only disappointment is as you said the functionality of the video chat is highly dependent on having a strong HSPA+ signal, the little H to the left of your signal bars. But other than that it’s pretty damn nice.

Tim

You need an optical track pad for FLASH. When you program for FLASH they have a situation called On MouseOver which mean your mouse pointer is floating over an active area and the program can sense that by testing for On MouseOver. So the optical pointer is for web browsing these type of sites. You have to have it for some sites.

Tim

You need an optical track pad for FLASH. When you program for FLASH they have a situation called On MouseOver which mean your mouse pointer is floating over an active area and the program can sense that by testing for On MouseOver. So the optical pointer is for web browsing these type of sites. You have to have it for some sites.

Alexis Shaw

question: I travel a lot to Europe and the Middle East and so my question for anyone that knows is will I be able to use this phone when I go overseas? With all my other T-Mobile phones, I was able to place a SIM in the portal for whichever country I was in….however, this phone has way more features and was wondering if I could enjoy full use of this device…prompt responses appreciated as I am thinking of purchasing one instead of the i phone.

Jeff

This is weird

rtg

Definetly NOT the king! Had to exchange mine out twice for software problems. The more texts/call log you have, the more it freezes (plan on re-setting 3-4 times a day). It’s never consistent.

Revs1227

in ny i have 4g all the time everywhere!!!!!!! so this phone is KING

Power2peop

i have the my touch 4G and i can say its great but its that T-mobile will only allow you to use 5gb of 4 G highspeed per month if you go over they dont charge extra they 3 g kicks in for the rest of the month though and 4g is no longer being used until the following month give me uninterupted 4g and nothing competes with the mytouch 4g